2:19–23 The angel of the Lord had told Joseph to remain in Egypt until he was told to leave (2:13). Now the angel appears once again and instructs him to take his family and go to the land of Israel. When Herod died in 4 B.C. his kingdom was divided into three parts. Archelaus, the eldest son, was placed over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea, but confirmation was withheld by Augustus until the newly appointed ethnarch could prove himself. This never happened. This ruthless leader opened his reign by slaughtering three thousand prominent citizens. Two years later, he was removed by the emperor, who then placed the territory under a prefect responsible to the legate of Syria.

It was during this two-year period that Joseph made preparations to return to Israel. Upon hearing that Archelaus was reig…